T20 WORLD CUP BLOW
We can’t host it until 2021, says Cricket Australia
THE T20 World Cup in October is set to be postponed until next year, with Geelong to miss the chance to host six matches this year.
But GMHBA Stadium officials are adamant the tournament will return to our shores in 2021 as Cricket Australia and the ICC negotiate a new timeslot for the event.
Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings revealed yesterday he wanted to host the T20 World
Cup in late 2021, when India was scheduled to stage the tournament.
Geelong was to host six games in October, but that remains on the cards for 2021, with Kardinia Park Stadium Trust boss Gerard Griffin anticipating the event would still come to the region next year.
GMHBA Stadium officials are expecting the T20 World Cup will come to Geelong next year after administrators requested it be postponed 12 months.
It was revealed yesterday that Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings wants to instead host the event in late 2021, when India was scheduled to stage the tournament.
Geelong was set to host six games in October across three double-headers. Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Gerard Griffin said he anticipated the event would still come to the region next year.
“There are binding agreements that are tied to the tournament,” Griffin said.
“I expect everything to roll across and continue as planned. We still look forward to hosting the tournament. Our level of excitement and anticipation of hosting the tournament remains.
“We just have to be a bit patient and accept the world we live in. We look forward to hosting it in 2021 in exactly the same look and feel that we were planning to have in 2020.”
Former Cricket Australia chairman and respected local cricket voice Bob Merriman said the task of bringing 15 nations to Australia was not viable.
“I’m glad it has been postponed and not cancelled so we will at least get the games in 2021,” Merriman said.
“It’s a pity it has to be postponed but the realistic position is it is probably justifiable.”
Griffin stressed he had received no confirmation the tournament had officially been postponed, revealing that meetings this week had continued planning for the event.
“What we’re most focused on is the tournament still comes to Geelong,” he said.
“The most important thing is the tournament happens and the tournament still comes to Geelong.”
A letter from Eddings was sent to the peak body’s financial and commercial affairs committee calling for it to be shifted because of the pandemic. Asked if there was a chance games would not come to Geelong, Griffin said he was “not anticipating that”.
“I’m still expecting that same economic catalyst that would have been for this year to be effectively just postponed for 12 months to next year,” he said.
The 2020 World Cup was slated to be run across October and November.